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Inside The Collection: Weekly Curator Picks

I LOVE MAKONNEN is the stage name of Atlanta-based R&B and hip-hop artist Makonnen Sheran. His rise to prominence began after Drake remixed his song “Tuesday.” Another one of his tracks reached Miley Cyrus, who shared it on her Instagram. He has recently signed to Drake’s label, OVO Sound, and has begun work on a collaboration project with Mike Will.

You+Me (pronounced “you plus me”) are a country-folk duo formed by singer-songwriter Alecia Moore (aka Pink) and Canadian musician Dallas Green (aka City And Colour). They recently unveiled their debut single, an acoustic love song “You And Me” and will release their debut studio album, Rose Ave., on 10/12.

Recently named “Best Of What’s Next” by Paste Magazine, Saint Pepsi began experimenting with remixing, genre shuffling and mashing up tracks by Justin Bieber and Carly Rae Jepsen – receiving recognition by multiple music blogs. He recently released his first non-remix track on the Carpark record label, “Fiona Coyne,” a summery synth-pop love letter to a fictional character on the TV show Degrassi.

Yes, James Hall named his band after The Flamin’ Groovies’ most popular song. And yes, Shake Some Action! is a musical project that’s largely informed by the jingle-jangle power-pop of the late ‘70s and early ‘80s. But where Hall’s other likeminded Seattle contemporaries rarely veer beyond the first three albums recorded by Big Star (cough, cough, The Posies, cough, cough), he gets more adventurous. Dig into the prolific man’s recordings and you’ll hear trace elements of more paisley underground sounding legends like The Rain Parade and The Three O’Clock. Hone in on Hall’s singing style and you’ll detect an anglophile approach that’s mined from early ‘90s EPs by The La’s and The Stone Roses.

With his previous album Bang! topping the Billboard Jazz chart in 2008, Frank Catalano has established himself as one of the top selling saxophonists in the United States, having the distinction of being the only known saxman to have performed with legendary artists like Miles Davis, Stan Getz, Betty Carter, Tito Puente and Tony Bennett – while still in high school! For his latest EP release, Love Supreme Collective, he teams up with Smashing Pumpkins drummer Jimmy Chamberlin (who originally trained as a jazz drummer). The homage to John Coltrane also features Percy Jones (Brand X), Chris Poland (Megadeth) and Adam Benjamin (Kneebody).

The dreamy, acoustic opening track “Ooo” sets the tone for the collection of lo-fi, stripped-down love songs from Yeah Yeah Yeahs frontwoman Karen O on her debut solo LP Crush Songs. Each of the album’s fifteen love ditties were recorded between 2006 and 2010 and (according to Karen O) were originally not intended for release at first, having been an outlet to bare her feelings. Lucky for us, she eventually distributed her intimate, impromptu-sounding musings to Cult Records (run by Strokes frontman Julian Casablancas). Other notable tracks include a brief cover of The Doors’ “Indian Summer” and the album’s lead single “Rapt.”

Hawaii-based producer Mr. Carmack is steadily making a name for himself in the worlds of trap and soulful electronica. While being associated with Soulection doesn’t hurt, it’s his riding of the line between rap & dance that makes his sound so relevant. With Blouses, Mr. Carmack mixes off-key video game samples and a rumbling bassline that evokes a dark, trapped-out netherworld. Nod your head to this!

Enjoy the uptown sounds of Memphis, from the rhythm section of Booker T. & The MG’s and many other STAX recording artists, to the quintessential Memphis soul of Al Green on the Hi label. The definitive Memphis horns sound still used in today’s retro soul provided the backbone for the classic hits you’ll hear on this station, including: “Soul Man,” “Knock on Wood,” “Respect Yourself” and “Funky Broadway.”

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Oldies Curator

I dig all things ‘60s: garage punk, obscure psych, Stax and Motown soul stompers. My first CD purchases were REM’s Out of Time and Boyz II Men’s Cooleyhighharmony. I still own both! I’m pretty much immersed in music – hitting up local record shops, catching live shows at crusty dives, and DJing around town at various venues and bars.

clay

September 24, 2014 at 7:17pm

Pam reardon

September 24, 2014 at 8:43pm

I could not make it through each day without my best friend Pandora! She makes each day and night so beautiful for me!! I would love to give a thumbs up to Emmylou Harris who has brightened my days for over 40 years- thank you Pandora!!!